PCRF-PCEF-OCS interaction in wireless-wireline convergence

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to a system and related method for charging an actual subscriber using a single subscriber profile. A Policy and Charging Rules Node (PCRN) may receive a message including a service request and may refer to a subscriber profile to add at least one subscriber identifier (ID) to the message. An Online Charging System (OCS) may thereafter receive a translated message originating from the PCRN and use the at least one subscriber ID included in the translated message to find charging information for the actual subscriber. The OCS may include the charging information in a charged message. A device providing service may then use the charged information to charge the actual subscriber for the requested service.

1. A method performed by a Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) to charge a subscriber of a communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a residential gateway (RG), a message having subscriber information; 
 sending, to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) having a translation node, the received message; 
 receiving, from the PCRN, a translated message created by the translation node, wherein the translated message comprises the received message and at least one additional subscriber ID; 
 sending the translated message to an online charging system (OCS); and 
 receiving, from the OCS, a charged message, wherein the OCS charged the subscriber associated with the subscriber ID included in the charged message, based on the subscriber's usage of the communications network. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the OCS contacts a database containing information associating the subscriber with the subscriber ID included in the translated message. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber ID included in the translated message is based on the access method of the subscriber. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises a Network Access Identifier (NAI). 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving from PCRN step further comprises:
 the PCRN retrieving, from a Subscription Profile Respository (SPR), the subscriber ID associated with the subscription information included in the received message. 
 
     
     
       7. A Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) to charge a subscriber of a communications network, wherein the BNG:
 receives, from a residential gateway (RG), a message containing subscriber information; 
 sends, to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) containing a translation node, the received message; 
 receives, from the PCRN, a translated message created by the translation node, wherein the translated message comprises the received message and at least one additional subscriber ID; 
 sends the translated message to an online charging system (OCS); and 
 receives, from the OCS, a charged message, wherein the OCS charged the subscriber associated with the subscriber ID included in the charged message based on the subscriber's usage of the communications network. 
 
     
     
       8. The BNG of  claim 7 , wherein the OCS contacts a database containing information associating the subscriber with the subscriber ID included in the translated message. 
     
     
       9. The BNG of  claim 7 , wherein the subscriber ID included in the translated message is based on the access method of the subscriber. 
     
     
       10. The BNG of  claim 9 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI). 
     
     
       11. The BNG of  claim 9 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises a Network Access Identifier (NAI). 
     
     
       12. The BNG of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving from PCRN step further comprises:
 the PCRN retrieving, from a Subscription Profile Respository (SPR), the subscriber ID associated with the subscription information included in the received message. 
 
     
     
       13. A method performed by a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) to charge a subscriber of a communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a broadband network gateway (BNG), an initial message sent from a residential gateway; 
 obtaining at least one additional subscriber ID associated with the subscriber information included in the subscriber information in the received message; 
 producing, a translated message using the subscriber information included in the initial message to include at least an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI); and 
 sending, to the BNG, the translated message, wherein the IMSI in the translated message is used to charge the associated subscriber for usage of the communications network. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the subscriber ID included in the translated message is based on the access method of the subscriber. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI). 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises a Network Access Identifier (NAI). 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the PCRN further comprises:
 an Sp interface that connects the PCRN to a Subscription Profile Repository (SPR) that contains a record associating the subscription information included in the received message with at least one subscription ID; 
 a Gx interface that connects the PCRN to a Policy Data Network Gateway (PGW) that uses the subscription ID. 
 
     
     
       18. A Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) to charge a subscriber of a communications network, the PCRN comprising:
 a translation node that
 receives, from a broadband network gateway (BNG), an initial message sent from a residential gateway; 
 obtains at least one additional subscriber ID associated with the subscriber information included in the subscriber information in the received message; 
 produces, a translated message using the subscriber information included in the initial message to include at least a subscription ID; and 
 sends, to the BNG, the translated message, wherein the subscription ID in the translated message is used to charge the associated subscriber for usage of the communications network. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The PCRN of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an Sp interface that connects the PCRN to a Subscription Profile Repository (SPR) that contains a record associating the subscription information included in the received message with at least one subscription ID; 
 a Gx interface that connects the PCRN to a Policy Data Network Gateway (PGW) that uses the subscription ID. 
 
     
     
       20. The PCRN of  claim 18 , wherein the subscription ID included in the translated message is based on the access method of the subscriber. 
     
     
       21. The PCRN of  claim 20 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI). 
     
     
       22. The PCRN of  claim 20 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises a Network Access Identifier (NAI). 
     
     
       23. A system to charge a subscriber of a communications network, the system comprising:
 user equipment (UE) to send at least a first message within the communications network; 
 a Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) that:
 receives the first message, 
 sends the first message to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN), 
 receives a first translated message from the PCRN, 
 sends the first translated message to the online charging system (OCS), and 
 receives a first charged message from the OCS; 
 
 a PCRN comprising a translation node that receives the first message and sends the translated message, wherein the translation node produces the translated message from the first message by translating the subscriber information contained in the first message to at least one additional subscriber ID; and 
 a OCS that receives the first translated message and produces the first charged message, wherein the OCS charges the subscriber associated with the subscriber ID included in the first translated message based on the subscriber's usage of the communications network. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a Subscription Profile Repository (SPR) that contains a record associating the subscription information included in the received message with at least one subscription ID; and 
 a Policy Data Network Gateway (PGW) that uses the subscription ID. 
 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the subscriber ID included in the translated message is based on the access method of the subscriber. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI). 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the subscriber ID comprises a Network Access Identifier (NAI).